Thomas j



(No Model.)

T. J. HANLEN.

GONSTRUGTION 0F VESSELS.

No. 365,180. Patented June 21, 1887.

INVHNTOB. W BY MM/HA4} ATTORNEYS N, PETERS, Phoza-Llfivogmphen washin mn \Ic.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFicn.

THOMAS HANLEN, on MACON, GEORGIA.

CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,180, dated June 21, 1887.

Application filed November 30, 1886. Serial No. 220,306. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS J. HANLEN, of Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Construction and Propulsion ofVessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the construction and propulsion of vessels, and has for its object to provide a vessel adapted for service on canals and for ferry or tugging purposes in shallow waters where light draft and considerable power are necessary.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations ofparts of the vessel and its means for propulsion, all as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectional elevation of part of a vessel, illustrating my improved system of vessel construction and propulsion; and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on the line m {E of Fig. 1.

The hull A of the vessel is made broad and with its bottom ogec shaped transversely at each side, and at the center of the bottom a longitndinallyranging concavity or semicircular channel, B, is formed, and this channel runs fore and aft clear through the vessels hull for free passage of water from stem to stern of the vessel. This peculiar shape may be given to the vessels bottom by bolting blocks 0 to the hull and sheathing the blocks at each edge, as at D; but any other construction may be adopted which will give the ogee shape to the side parts of the bottom and provide the channel B therein. Metal plates, for instance, may be employed for this purpose.

In suitable braced hangers, E, fixed to the vessels hull, there is jonrnaled a main shaft, F, on which a series of screw-propellers, G, are fixed, and collars H H, fixed to the shaftone at each side of the bearings of the shaft in the hangers hold the shaft against endwise movement. To the shaft F are connected cranks I I, set onequarter in advance of each other, to avoid dead-centers in the rotation of the shaft, and these cranks are connected by rods J J with crank-wrists L k of a shaft, K, journaled in the vessels hull. This shaft K has two cranks, L L, set one-quarter in advance of each other, and to which will be connected the piston-rods of a double-cylinder engine, or rods driven by any other suitable motor.

\Vhcre the connecting-rods J J pass through the hull of the vessel at openingsjj therein, casings M M are provided. The Vertical walls of these casings M are preferably cast with a bed-plate, A, which is bolted to the back or top face of the inner semicircular planking,

D, of the vessels hnll,said bed-plate prefcrabl y extending around for some little distance at each side of the center of the hull and finishing about flush with the inner bottom planking, a, of the hull. The tops m of the casings are made detachable and are secured by bolts, thus allowing ready removal of them for access to the bearings of the connecting-rods J. The driving-shaft K is journalcd at each end in the inner side parts, an, of the casings M, and at its center, in a pillow-block, N, preferably cast with the bed-plate A, and whereby substantial bearings are given the drivingshaft, and the shaft is packed at stuffing-boxes O O at the opposing sides of the casings, to prevent passage of water into the vessel.

The ogee shape of the vessels hulLat each side renders the vessel buoyant and adapts the vessel for service in canals, or for use as a ferry-boat or a tug-boat on shallow waters. The location of the propeller-shaft and propellers in the channel B of the hull enables the propellers to be located at convenient distances apart to develop the greatest driving power with the lightest possible draft of the vessel, and the rod and crank connections between the propeller-shaft and the power or driving shaft are so located in the vessel that little vibration of the vessel is caused by the working of the propellers, as the endwisc thrusts or strains of the propellers are taken up by a series of bearings provided by the collars H on the propellershaft.

It is obvious that this system of propulsion may be adapted to large or small vessels, and that the driving power may be very great, considering the size and lightness of draft of the vessel.

I do not in this application make claim to avessel provided with a fi-shaped longitudinal channel through its hull, the sides of the hull g the shaft F, the shaft F, j ournaled in said bearings and provided with cranks I and propellers G, the pillowblock N, the shaft K,

journaled in said block and in the'casing's M, and provided with cranks 70 within said casings and with cranks L L between the same, and the pitmen J', connecting cranks k and I, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A vessel having its hull formed with a longitudinal channel, B, and with openings j, leading through its bottom into said channel and provided with bottomless casings M, fitted over the openings j, the vertical Walls of said casings being cast with abed-plate, A, and bolts connecting said bed-plate with the hull, substantially asset forth.

THOS. J. HANLEN. Witnesses:

H. D, R. HEMBRIE, J. W. OHARA. 

